diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ui/CountBadge.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ui/CountBadge.tsx
index a99265bb..bbb1c283 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ui/CountBadge.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ui/CountBadge.tsx
@@ -1,15 +1,20 @@
+import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
+import { formatCompact } from "../../lib/format";
+
 // A small count pill shown beside a tab label or filter chip (pending requests, item counts). One
 // source for the count-badge token so Tabs and FilterChipGroup can't drift. The `active` variant sits
 // on an accent-filled parent (a pressed tab/chip), so it tints against accent-fg; the resting variant
-// carries its own accent tint. Callers guard on `count > 0` — this just renders the pill.
+// carries its own accent tint. Callers guard on `count > 0` — this just renders the pill. The count is
+// compact in the UI language ("17.2K" / "17,2 E"), the same as every other count in the app.
 export default function CountBadge({ count, active }: { count: number; active?: boolean }) {
+  const { i18n } = useTranslation();
   return (
     <span
       className={`tabular-nums text-2xs leading-none px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full ${
         active ? "bg-accent-fg/20" : "bg-accent/20 text-accent"
       }`}
     >
-      {count}
+      {formatCompact(count, i18n.language)}
     </span>
   );
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ui/YearPicker.dom.test.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ui/YearPicker.dom.test.tsx
index c78bb35c..2f47b17e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ui/YearPicker.dom.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ui/YearPicker.dom.test.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 // @vitest-environment jsdom
+import { useState } from "react";
 import { describe, it, expect, vi, afterEach } from "vitest";
 import { render, screen, fireEvent, cleanup, within, act } from "@testing-library/react";
 
@@ -88,6 +89,44 @@ describe("YearPicker", () => {
     expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "sidebar.year.more" })).toBeTruthy();
   });
 
+  it("offers no More… once every year with titles is a chip", () => {
+    const { rerender } = render(<YearPicker years={YEARS.slice(0, 6)} onPick={() => {}} />);
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: "sidebar.year.more" })).toBeNull();
+    // Seven years, the seventh selected: it is kept as a chip, so nothing is left for the dialog.
+    rerender(<YearPicker years={YEARS.slice(0, 7)} selected={2013} onPick={() => {}} />);
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: "sidebar.year.more" })).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("picking the one year the chips hid moves the focus to its chip, not to <body>", () => {
+    // Seven years: the pick keeps 2013 as a chip, so More… leaves with the dialog it opened.
+    function Picker() {
+      const [year, setYear] = useState<number | undefined>();
+      return <YearPicker years={YEARS.slice(0, 7)} selected={year} onPick={setYear} />;
+    }
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    try {
+      render(<Picker />);
+      const more = screen.getByRole("button", { name: "sidebar.year.more" });
+      more.focus();
+      fireEvent.click(more);
+      const cell = screen.getByRole("dialog").querySelector<HTMLElement>('[data-year="2013"]')!;
+      cell.focus();
+      fireEvent.click(cell);
+      act(() => {
+        vi.runAllTimers();
+      });
+      expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: "sidebar.year.more" })).toBeNull();
+      expect(document.activeElement).toBe(screen.getByRole("button", { pressed: true }));
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("a chip's count is compact too, the same as its cell's", () => {
+    render(<YearPicker years={[{ year: 2025, count: 17243 }]} onPick={() => {}} />);
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button").textContent).toBe("202517.2K");
+  });
+
   it("More… is a plain chip: the ellipsis says a dialog follows, no chevron", () => {
     render(<YearPicker years={YEARS} onPick={() => {}} />);
     expect(
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ui/YearPicker.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ui/YearPicker.tsx
index c686ad4f..ae9e4184 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ui/YearPicker.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ui/YearPicker.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useMemo, useState } from "react";
+import { useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { Chip } from "./Chip";
 import CountBadge from "./CountBadge";
@@ -52,10 +52,22 @@ export default function YearPicker({
   // only if it is one of them.
   const more = years.some((y) => !quick.some((q) => q.year === y.year));
 
+  const chipsRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const toggle = (year: number) => onPick(selected === year ? undefined : year);
   const pickAndClose = (year: number) => {
     toggle(year);
     setOpen(false);
+    // A pick that leaves the dialog nothing to show takes More… away with it, and the dialog then has
+    // nowhere to give the focus back: it fell to <body>, which also folded an unpinned rail. So it
+    // goes to the picked year's chip (the first chip if the pick cleared it). A timer, not a frame: a
+    // page the browser is not painting runs no requestAnimationFrame.
+    window.setTimeout(() => {
+      const now = document.activeElement;
+      const row = chipsRef.current;
+      if ((now && now !== document.body && now.isConnected) || !row) return;
+      const chip = row.querySelector<HTMLElement>(`[data-year="${year}"]`);
+      (chip ?? row.querySelector<HTMLElement>("button"))?.focus({ preventScroll: true });
+    }, 0);
   };
 
   const cell = (y: YearCount, index: number) => {
@@ -79,7 +91,7 @@ export default function YearPicker({
   };
 
   return (
-    <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1.5">
+    <div ref={chipsRef} className="flex flex-wrap gap-1.5">
       {quick.map((y) => {
         const on = selected === y.year;
         // The chip kept only for the selection leaves with it: from the keyboard, the focus goes to
@@ -89,6 +101,7 @@ export default function YearPicker({
           <Chip
             key={y.year}
             pressed={on}
+            data-year={y.year}
             onClick={(e) => {
               if (leaves && e.currentTarget === document.activeElement)
                 handOffFocus(e.currentTarget, () => toggle(y.year));
diff --git a/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.tsx b/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.tsx
index bc90f2fd..a8eafbe7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useState } from "react";
+import { type ReactNode, useState } from "react";
 import { qk } from "../../lib/queryKeys";
 import { usePlexCollectionTitles } from "../../lib/usePlexCollectionTitles";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
@@ -85,6 +85,27 @@ export default function PlexSidebar() {
   // just lists them as removable chips. Studios now have their own picker section (below).
   const peopleActive = filters.directors.length + filters.actors.length > 0;
 
+  // A section the facets fill, shown when its facet has values. While the facets are not here, it
+  // says why it is empty: a first load or a failed one must not read as a library with no genres
+  // (honest states). The Year section announces it; these only show it, so it is read once.
+  const facetsState: FacetsState = facets
+    ? "ready"
+    : facetsQ.isError
+      ? "error"
+      : facetsQ.isLoading
+        ? "loading"
+        : "ready";
+  const facetSection = (
+    id: string,
+    title: string,
+    has: (f: PlexFacets) => boolean,
+    body: (f: PlexFacets) => ReactNode,
+  ): PanelItem[] => {
+    if (facets) return has(facets) ? [{ id, title, body: body(facets) }] : [];
+    if (facetsState === "ready") return [];
+    return [{ id, title, body: <FacetsStatus state={facetsState} /> }];
+  };
+
   // Group bodies (no title — the PanelGroup card supplies it). Only available groups are pushed,
   // so facet-gated / scope-gated sections drop out cleanly; PanelGroups orders them by the saved
   // layout and lets the user reorder / hide / collapse them.
@@ -154,33 +175,32 @@ export default function PlexSidebar() {
         />
       ),
     },
-    ...(facets && facets.genres.length > 0
-      ? [
-          {
-            id: "genre",
-            title: t("plex.filter.genre"),
-            body: (
-              <>
-                <MatchToggle
-                  picked={filters.genres.length}
-                  value={filters.genreMode ?? "any"}
-                  onChange={(m) => patch({ genreMode: m })}
-                />
-                <Combobox
-                  label={t("plex.filter.genre")}
-                  options={facets.genres}
-                  selected={filters.genres}
-                  onChange={(next) => patch({ genres: next })}
-                />
-              </>
-            ),
-          },
-        ]
-      : []),
+    ...facetSection(
+      "genre",
+      t("plex.filter.genre"),
+      (f) => f.genres.length > 0,
+      (f) => (
+        <>
+          <MatchToggle
+            picked={filters.genres.length}
+            value={filters.genreMode ?? "any"}
+            onChange={(m) => patch({ genreMode: m })}
+          />
+          <Combobox
+            label={t("plex.filter.genre")}
+            options={f.genres}
+            selected={filters.genres}
+            onChange={(next) => patch({ genres: next })}
+          />
+        </>
+      ),
+    ),
     {
       id: "year",
       title: t("plex.filter.year"),
-      body: <PlexYearFilter filters={filters} facets={facets} patch={patch} />,
+      body: (
+        <PlexYearFilter filters={filters} facets={facets} facetsState={facetsState} patch={patch} />
+      ),
     },
     ...(scope === "movie"
       ? [
@@ -227,62 +247,55 @@ export default function PlexSidebar() {
         />
       ),
     },
-    ...(facets && facets.content_ratings.length > 0
-      ? [
-          {
-            id: "contentrating",
-            title: t("plex.filter.contentRating"),
-            body: (
-              <Combobox
-                label={t("plex.filter.contentRating")}
-                options={facets.content_ratings.map((o) => ({
-                  ...o,
-                  label: vocab(t, "certificate", o.value),
-                }))}
-                selected={filters.contentRatings}
-                onChange={(next) => patch({ contentRatings: next })}
-              />
-            ),
-          },
-        ]
-      : []),
-    ...(facets && facets.studios.length > 0
-      ? [
-          {
-            id: "studio",
-            title: t("plex.filter.studio"),
-            body: (
-              <Combobox
-                label={t("plex.filter.studio")}
-                options={facets.studios}
-                selected={filters.studios}
-                onChange={(next) => patch({ studios: next })}
-              />
-            ),
-          },
-        ]
-      : []),
+    ...facetSection(
+      "contentrating",
+      t("plex.filter.contentRating"),
+      (f) => f.content_ratings.length > 0,
+      (f) => (
+        <Combobox
+          label={t("plex.filter.contentRating")}
+          options={f.content_ratings.map((o) => ({
+            ...o,
+            label: vocab(t, "certificate", o.value),
+          }))}
+          selected={filters.contentRatings}
+          onChange={(next) => patch({ contentRatings: next })}
+        />
+      ),
+    ),
+    ...facetSection(
+      "studio",
+      t("plex.filter.studio"),
+      (f) => f.studios.length > 0,
+      (f) => (
+        <Combobox
+          label={t("plex.filter.studio")}
+          options={f.studios}
+          selected={filters.studios}
+          onChange={(next) => patch({ studios: next })}
+        />
+      ),
+    ),
     // Playback class (Direct Play / Direct Stream / Transcode HW/SW) — movie-only (shows have no
     // class), and dropped when the facet is empty. Labels are localized (the facet ships class keys).
-    ...(scope === "movie" && facets && facets.playable.length > 0
-      ? [
-          {
-            id: "playable",
-            title: t("plex.filter.playable"),
-            body: (
-              <Combobox
-                label={t("plex.filter.playable")}
-                options={facets.playable.map((p) => ({
-                  value: p.value,
-                  label: t(`plex.filter.playableOpt.${p.value}`),
-                  count: p.count,
-                }))}
-                selected={filters.playable}
-                onChange={(next) => patch({ playable: next })}
-              />
-            ),
-          },
-        ]
+    ...(scope === "movie"
+      ? facetSection(
+          "playable",
+          t("plex.filter.playable"),
+          (f) => f.playable.length > 0,
+          (f) => (
+            <Combobox
+              label={t("plex.filter.playable")}
+              options={f.playable.map((p) => ({
+                value: p.value,
+                label: t(`plex.filter.playableOpt.${p.value}`),
+                count: p.count,
+              }))}
+              selected={filters.playable}
+              onChange={(next) => patch({ playable: next })}
+            />
+          ),
+        )
       : []),
   ];
 
@@ -483,15 +496,18 @@ function RemovableChip({ label, onRemove }: { label: string; onRemove: () => voi
 export function PlexYearFilter({
   filters,
   facets,
+  facetsState = "ready",
   patch,
 }: {
   filters: PlexFilters;
   facets: PlexFacets | undefined;
+  facetsState?: FacetsState;
   patch: (p: Partial<PlexFilters>) => void;
 }) {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
+      {facetsState !== "ready" && <FacetsStatus state={facetsState} announce />}
       {facets && facets.years.length > 0 && (
         <YearPicker
           years={facets.years}
@@ -518,6 +534,26 @@ export function PlexYearFilter({
   );
 }
 
+type FacetsState = "ready" | "loading" | "error";
+
+/** Why a facet-filled section is empty while the facets are not here. `announce` makes it a live
+ *  region: one section announces, the rest only show it. */
+function FacetsStatus({
+  state,
+  announce = false,
+}: {
+  state: Exclude<FacetsState, "ready">;
+  announce?: boolean;
+}) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const role = announce ? (state === "error" ? "alert" : "status") : undefined;
+  return (
+    <p className="text-muted px-1 py-1.5 text-xs" role={role}>
+      {t(state === "error" ? "common.loadError" : "common.loading")}
+    </p>
+  );
+}
+
 function NumberInput({
   label,
   value,
diff --git a/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.year.dom.test.tsx b/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.year.dom.test.tsx
index 25a9a54e..056d4de8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.year.dom.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.year.dom.test.tsx
@@ -64,6 +64,27 @@ describe("the Plex rail's Year section", () => {
     expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { pressed: true })).toBeNull();
   });
 
+  it("says the years are loading, or failed to load, rather than showing none", () => {
+    const { rerender } = render(
+      <PlexYearFilter
+        filters={EMPTY_PLEX_FILTERS}
+        facets={undefined}
+        facetsState="loading"
+        patch={() => {}}
+      />,
+    );
+    expect(screen.getByRole("status").textContent).toBe("common.loading");
+    rerender(
+      <PlexYearFilter
+        filters={EMPTY_PLEX_FILTERS}
+        facets={undefined}
+        facetsState="error"
+        patch={() => {}}
+      />,
+    );
+    expect(screen.getByRole("alert").textContent).toBe("common.loadError");
+  });
+
   it("names the range fields", () => {
     render(<PlexYearFilter filters={EMPTY_PLEX_FILTERS} facets={FACETS} patch={() => {}} />);
     expect(screen.getByRole("spinbutton", { name: "plex.filter.yearFrom" })).toBeTruthy();
diff --git a/frontend/src/modules/settings/MyLogViewer.dom.test.tsx b/frontend/src/modules/settings/MyLogViewer.dom.test.tsx
index d9772099..24fc67c1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/modules/settings/MyLogViewer.dom.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/modules/settings/MyLogViewer.dom.test.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ vi.mock("react-i18next", async (importOriginal) => {
     useTranslation: () => ({
       t: (key: string, opts?: { count?: number }) =>
         opts?.count != null ? `${key}:${opts.count}` : key,
+      i18n: { language: "en" },
     }),
   };
 });